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Mumbai: Special train to ferry 1,200 migrant workers to

Uttar Pradesh
TNN | May 13, 2020, 10.15 PM IST

MUMBAI: Police resorted to lathi-charge in Mumbai's Nagpada area on

Wednesday morning after around 800 to 1,000 migrant labourers
gathered near Hotel Rippon Palace demanding a train be arranged for
them to go to their native places.

Later, in the evening, the police called them to send them to their
hometowns. A train with 1,200 migrant workers will be leaving on
Wednesday night for Uttar Pradesh, said a police officer.

Locals said that the migrant workers had been making the rounds of the
Nagpada police station and had submitted their documents.

“Most of them work in zari units, purse making units, leather units and shoe manufacturing units. They are sitting idle due to the
lockdown. At some places, some labourers are getting partial salary and some places they are getting food. Many of them
complained they had run out of money and just wanted to go to their hometowns,” said a local.

The police had been checking the documents of the migrant workers who had applied to be sent back home. They also
contacted medical practitioners and collected health fitness certificates. “Around 1,200 migrant workers will board a train for
Uttar Pradesh tonight,” said Shalini Sharma, senior inspector of Nagapda police station.

The police began making calls to those whose papers were clear and called them near the police station. Hundreds of migrant
labourers gathered near the Napgpada junction. Senior police officials addressed them and assured help. At many placec,
police, with the help of NGOs, had been providing them food as well. A migrant labouer said that he was happy that he will be
going to his home and be with his parents. “At this point of time I just want to be with my family,” he said.